Zero takers in Karnataka for PM-KUSUM’s most lucrative solar scheme: Report
Mangaluru: Karnataka has failed to generate any demand under Component A of the PM-KUSUM scheme, the most lucrative part of the initiative that allows farmers to set up solar power plants of up to 2 MW on their land and sell surplus electricity to distribution companies.
Despite the potential for a steady income stream and the promotion of clean energy, the component has seen no uptake in the state, even six years after the scheme’s launch, as reported by The New Indian Express on Monday.
Launched in 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme aims to reduce agriculture’s dependence on diesel, provide reliable solar power for irrigation, and improve farmers' income. The scheme is divided into three parts: Component A for decentralised solar plants, Component B for off-grid solar pumps, and Component C for solarising grid-connected agricultural pumps, including feeder-level solarisation.
A statement in Lok Sabha by Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power, cited by TNIE, highlighted that while Components B and C have seen some progress in Karnataka, the overall implementation remains uneven and significantly below the sanctioned targets.
As of July 2025, Karnataka had been sanctioned 41,365 solar pumps under Component B, but only 2,388 have been installed. Similarly, under Component C (Feeder Level Solarisation), 6.28 lakh pumps were approved, but only 23,133 have been solarised. No demand has been raised for individual pump solarisation under Component C, underscoring underutilisation.
Despite these setbacks, some districts have shown a better adoption rate. Tumakuru leads the state with 6,160 grid-connected solar pumps, followed by Chikkaballapur (5,364) and Ramanagara (3,788). However, key agricultural districts like Belagavi, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru report almost negligible uptake, highlighting the inconsistency across the state.
On a national scale, Karnataka's performance remains modest, with 23,761 farmers benefiting from the PM-KUSUM scheme. This number pales in comparison to states like Maharashtra (7.27 lakh farmers), Gujarat (1.95 lakh), and Rajasthan (1.56 lakh), which have fully harnessed the potential of the scheme..
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GPS tracking leads Delhi Police to arrest of habitual offender in cheating case
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a 40-year-old proclaimed offender for allegedly cheating a woman of her gold ornaments and cash in northwest Delhi, officials said on Monday.
The arrest was made after the police tracked the movement of the accused's vehicle using a GPS device, they said.
The accused, identified as Rahul, was arrested from the Model Town area on Sunday. Police also recovered the car which was used in the commission of the crime.
According to the police, Rahul is a habitual criminal involved in nine cases, including robbery, snatching, theft, culpable homicide. He is also a proclaimed offender in seven different cases.
"He committed such offences to earn easy money," Additional Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh said in a statement.
The incident took place on January 18 when a 55-year-old woman was travelling from her residence to Uttam Nagar. While she was waiting at the Haiderpur bus stand, the occupants of a car offered her a lift, claiming to be bank officials.
Once she boarded the vehicle, the accused persuaded her to hand over her gold ornaments and cash for "verification", stating they were also depositing their own money.
The woman handed over two gold rings, two ear tops and Rs 5,000 in cash. Shortly after, the accused asked her to alight quickly and handed her an envelope, claiming that bank officials had arrived.
Upon checking, the woman found the only papers in the envelop, while the accused fled with her belongings. The woman later approached the police and lodged a complaint.
Following the complaint, police analysed technical inputs and traced the car used in the crime. A GPS tracking device was installed in the vehicle to monitor its movement discreetly.
"Based on real-time location data generated through the GPS device, the accused was tracked and apprehended," the officer said.
During interrogation, Rahul confessed to his involvement in the case along with two others, identified as Manoj and Amit. Efforts are on to arrest the remaining suspects and recover the stolen items, the officer added.
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